TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY FOR AN ETHICAL A SUSTAINABLE A FAIR TOURISM
As tourists, we have a duty to ask ourselves about the socio-cultural (cultural erosion, cultural shock, physical pressures that are factors of social stress, social deterioration, etc.) and environmental impacts (natural resource consumption, multiple pollution, physical impacts …) that our behaviors generate on the territories we visit.
It is therefore important to rethink how we travel, in a responsible way for sustainable tourism !
Our commitments to make you travel differently
Your responsible Commitments
You have chosen to travel with us as a responsible consumer. So you have realized that your attitude and actions on site can be a factor of development for the host populations as well as a destabilizing factor.
Consequently, you agree to :
- keep you from any attitude and intervention that could upset the social, cultural and ecological balance of local communities.
- refrain from any donation and direct intervention on the place that would not be placed under our control.
IMMERSION WITH THE MINANGKABAU
6 days/5 nights
But it is mainly a participatory immersion stay, during which you will be host by a local family in order to discover their traditional way of life rhythmed by the sun. They will share their day-to-day life by participating with them to the work in rice fields and in peppers and gambir plantations (harvesting, sowing, eel fishing…), to the buffalo and fish fodder, and also to the preparation of local dishes that you will taste in the company of your hosts. You will also experience the traditional public baths and during the evenings, you will be able to exchange your impressions with your hosts, discuss about the local traditions and listen Minang songs to the sound of traditional instruments…
7 days / 6 nights
This option offers you an additional day to do a trek in the rainforest or to climb the Merapi volcano.
“Live a unique experience by sharing the daily life of a Minangkabau family” "Be amazed by the impressive architecture of traditional houses" "Discover new flavours through refined local cuisine with a thousand spices"
BUKITTINGGI
- Departure to Bukittinggi from Padang (city/airport) at 9.00am or from Rimba Ecolodge at 8.00am.
- Stop at the waterfalls of Lembah Anai ;
- Lunch in a local restaurant ;
- Visit of the Minang Museum in Padang Pajang ;
- Check-in at the hotel in Bukittinggi ;
- Discovery of the city: The big clock (Jam Gadang) built by the Dutch, and on which was added a Minang style roof by the inhabitants of Bukittinggi following the country’s independence ; the market (Pasar atas) offering dozens of varieties of “traditional crisps” (krupuk) which make the city’s reputation ; and finally the Panorama Park which offers the best view of the Sianok Canyon and allows the observation of the giant bats that come out of their hiding place at sunset to reach the surrounding forests.
- Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight in Bukittinggi.
(Occasional program : discovery of the Rafflesia arnoldii, the largest flower in the world, in nature reserve of Palupuh)
MANINJAU LAKE
- After breakfast, departure for Maninjau lake.
- Enjoy the view of the green slopes of the Singgalang volcano from Sungai Landia.
- Stop in Lawang Top to admire the wonderfull view of Maninjau lake, then descent into the crater to reach the lake via the famous “44 bends” road ! Arrival at the village of Bayua Ateh ;
- Meet with your hosts and have lunch with them ;
- Sowing, harvesting… in pepper gardens ;
- Harvesting of dry wood for cooking ;
- Local cooking classes (Rendang, Gulai and traditional snacks) ;
- Shower in traditional public baths (supplied by a river) ;
- Dinner and evening with the hosts (exchange views on culture, local traditions…) ;
- Night in the house of your hosts.
- Breakfast with hosts ;
- Discovery of the work in rice fields and traditional plowing with buffalo ;
- Participation in the preparation of the lunch and lunch with your hosts ;
- Mowing grass to feed the cows ;
- Feeding of fish in ponds ;
- Dinner and evening with the hosts ;
- Night in the house of your hosts.
HARAU VALLEY
- Breakfast with hosts ;
- Departure to Harau valley ;
- Lunch at Payakumbuh in a local restaurant ;
- Arrival at the village of Harau and meeting with our hosts ;
- Discovery of Gambir plantations (plant used in dyeing, leather tanning and brewing) ;
- Harvesting and processing of Gambir leaves ;
- Participation in the preparation of the dinner and dinner with your hosts ;
- Dinner and evening with the hosts ;
- Night in the house of your hosts.
- Breakfast with hosts ;
- Discovery and participation in palm sugar harvesting techniques ;
- Lunch with the villagers ;
- Making of bait and setting traps for catching eels in rice fields ;
- Dinner with hosts ;
- Discovery of the art of “Saluang”, a traditional Minang musical instrument similar to a flute ;
- Night in the house of your hosts.
MINANGKABAU CULTURAL HERITAGE
- Breakfast with hosts ;
- Last exchanges with the host family ;
- Departure to Padang/Bungus and stop for the lunch at a local restaurant ;
- Visit of the Royal Palace of Pagaruyung ;
- Visit the oldest traditional Minangkabau house (350 years old!) in the village of Balimbing ;
- Arrival at Padang/Bungus.
IMMERSION WITH THE MENTAWAI
Stays starting from 6 days/5 nights
